Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

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October 4, 2022
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Two albums to listen to: A selection of new projects worth giving a listen

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Kelly Smith

Cheetah – Aphex Twin

Following his comeback LP Syro, electronic legend Aphex Twin came out with another surprise release last Friday, but took on a new perspective to his regular IDM by stripping down his sound for a minimal experience.

100 BPM is the key here, with each song besides the bonus tracks featuring relatively mid-tempo beats. That isn’t to say the album feels repetitive or lacks a challenge like his other releases – in fact, this EP covers as much, if not more, territory than Syro did with fewer tracks.


Stripped of Aphex Twin’s typically cynical attitude, Cheetah explores a more mellow mindset. Although it might not stand true as the preeminent release in Aphex Twin’s discography, it’s another solid album in his collection.

Tracks to listen to: “CIRKLON3 [Колхозная mix],” “CIRKLON 1,” “2X202-ST5”

Blank Face – ScHoolboy Q

With a huge buff in production value and well-suited features, Blank Face is the LP that ScHoolboy Q fans have been waiting for. The record shows a significant growth in his music – whether that be in instrumentation or lyrics, it’s easy to say now that Q is one of the best members of rap collective Black Hippy and his label TDE.

Trippy and atmospheric beats litter this album, helping provide a backdrop to Q’s 74-minute stroll during a dark night in Los Angeles. And there really isn’t much fat to trim – each song brings with it a confidence unmatched in Q’s debut album Oxymoron. With a feature roster any rap fan would drool at, ScHoolboy Q crafts a love letter to the West Coast and explores the good, the bad and the ugly to create a sort-of concept album that shows his true talents as a performer.

Tracks to listen to: “Groovy Tony/Eddie Kane,” “Ride Out” “Overtime”

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Two albums to listen to: A selection of new projects worth giving a listen